A Beer Tourist’s Guide To…Athens
The ancient Greeks drank beer to increase their strength for all that Minotaur fighting they had to do. Respect. Nowadays in Athens, beer isn’t exactly the drink of choice yet the city centre holds some real gems. There are also beer pubs for international craft but that isn’t why you’re here, so these don’t feature. Move past the Mythos and drink local craft – here is your brew-tinerary for Athens, Greece. Yamas!
Tapfield
The newest arrival on the Athens craft beer scene is maybe the best, with an eccentric owner who is an encyclopaedia of local craft. Don’t be fooled by its central location – this is the opposite of a tourist trap. Rotating taps, kegs from miniscule local breweries and an atmosphere of conversation and energy in an intimate bar space means Tapfield is a home run for Greek craft.
Tranzistor
An irresistibly edgy bar on one of Psiri’s liveliest streets, Tranzistor offers a people watching master class while hosting a menu of local craft beer and all sorts of Greek nibbles. Dangerous on a crawl as you might end up there all night.
Barley Cargo
The Zeus of the bunch, this has beer from every craft brewery in Greece so anything you were hoping to try at one of the others that wasn’t available will definitely be here. A large space with mainly indoor seating has friendly bartenders and a more commercial vibe than the others, but you cannot beat it for local craft. A masterpiece.
Strange Brew Taproom
Just a 15 minute walk south of the Acropolis, the taproom of one of the best breweries in Athens is a worthwhile venture for a late afternoon pint. Fresh stuff on tap and placed on a cute side street with other cool bars, it’s worth it if you have the time. A late night tipple this is not: be warned of the early closing of 9pm, in Greece barely the end of lunch.
Va.Ben.E.
If you find yourself going full anarchy in Exarcheia one night then this is the place to rebel against the mainstream beer corporations. Events showcasing local breweries and a regular stream of craft beer from around the city make this a fun place to go, with a cool patio area full of sociable anarchists.
Your Brew-crawl itinerary in this case can encompass Tapfield, Tranzistor and Barley Cargo in any order, given how close they are to each other (5 minute walk between each) and the fact they all are open til 3am. If you want to hit the other two on the same crawl, go to Strange Brew first, work up to the central three in any order, then end at Va.Ben.E. which closes at 4am. Welcome to Greece!